5.2 Guiding Principles

The seven goals have been developed with the following four guiding principles, to ensure an understanding of the role of adaptation and that a coherent approach to the impacts of climate change is considered in the service delivery of Cork County Council.

Mainstream Adaptation

That climate change adaptation is a core consideration and is mainstreamed in all services and activities across the Local Authority. Additionally, it aims to ensure that the Local Authority is well positioned to benefit from economic development opportunities that may emerge due to a commitment to a proactive climate change adaptation and community resilience.

Informed Decision Making

That effective and informed decision making within the Local Authority is based on reliable and robust information having regard to key impacts, risks and vulnerabilities of the county. This will support long term financial planning, effective management of risks and help to prioritise actions.

5.3 Climate Change Actions

Cork County Council will address its climate adaptation responsibilities through the following measures: Predicted climate change can sometimes result in additional benefits and opportunities for the county. A register of opportunities will enable the Local Authority to encourage communities and interested parties to collaborate on the potential benefits of climate change.

• Ensuring the effective and efficient delivery of services under changing climatic conditions
• Continue to integrate mitigation and adaptation strategies into all policy and decision making That improved awareness and appreciation of climate change will encourage communities to adapt to the anticipated impacts and promote a sustainable and robust action response and that the needs of vulnerable communities are prioritised and addressed.
• Respond effectively to emergency situations and extreme weather events
• Manage climate risks to public assets owned/managed by the Local Authority
• Integrate and implement cross-sectoral adaptation strategies at a local level
• Work with communities to build resilience and adaptive capacity

The timeframes associated with each action is set out below:

information having regard to key impacts, risks and vulnerabilities of the county. This will support long term financial planning, effective management of risks and help to prioritise actions.

Building Resilience

That improved awareness and appreciation of climate change will encourage communities to adapt to the anticipated impacts and promote a sustainable and robust action response and that the needs of vulnerable communities are prioritised and addressed.

Capitalising on Opportunities

Predicted climate change can sometimes result in additional benefits and opportunities for the county. A register of opportunities will enable the Local Authority to encourage communities and interested parties to collaborate on the potential benefits of climate change.

The actions were developed from interactions with the Local Authority and interested parties through workshops, meetings and research conducted on a national and local level. These actions* which may involve a mixture of grey, green, and soft measures covers all functional/ operational areas of the Council. Each high-level goal can involve a number of Local Authority services and directorates. The Environment Directorate will coordinate the activities of all sections of the Local Authority and will monitor progress.

*Adaptation Options come in many forms and can be usefully characterised as:

• Grey Actions: Technological and Engineering Solutions
• Green Actions: Ecosystem-based approaches that use the multiple services of nature
• Soft Actions: Managerial or Legal Approaches.

Table 5.1 Timeframe for actions over lifetime of strategy